Hampton Roads Fraud Lawyer

Fraud charges are serious offenses and have harsh penalties for cases that end in conviction. An experienced Hampton Roads fraud lawyer can help someone through the process of defending their rights and reputation against these accusations. An experienced criminal lawyer can answer any questions you may have about the charges and assist you in building a case that compliments your overall desired outcome.

Legal Definition of Fraud

Fraud is a broad term for using some deception or tricks to induce somebody into doing something or to improperly gain property from another person. It can be critical for the person accused of this crime to contact a Hampton Roads fraud lawyer as soon as possible. The most common types of fraud offenses include credit card fraud, identity fraud, and obtaining money by false pretenses.

What is a Forgery Offense?

Felonies are often associated with other charges and can carry up to ten years in jail if convicted. Forgery is signing somebody’s name that is not a person’s name when they do not have permission to do so. Some examples of forgery include passing a bad check, passing a stolen check, and taking somebody else’s check when they are filling it out and then fill it out with the other person’s name.

For the Commonwealth to get a forgery conviction, they have to show that there is a forged writing or a false writing. Forgery is usually a signature, but it could be a statement. The Commonwealth has to show that there is a statement that the accused attempted to use to their advantage and that they knew was false. These are cases where there is a paper trail that is presented in court.

Investigation Process

The types of evidence used in a case and the investigation process depends on the kind of fraud case. For a conviction, credit card fraud cases require showing that the person who was not the rightful owner used that credit card or the credit card numbers without the permission of the rightful owner.

Oftentimes, they will make receipts or there may be video surveillance showing that it was used in a gas station. As a Hampton Roads fraud lawyer knows, the prosecution of must show through their footage that the accused acted without the authorization of the rightful owner when using their name or likeness or property.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are several common mistakes that people make during fraud cases. A Hampton Roads fraud lawyer can help prevent many of these mistakes from occurring. A lot of times people talk themselves into trouble. They think they can talk their way out of it, but what happens is they end up going in front of a judge or a police officer and making it worse.

Impacts of the Internet on Fraud Cases

The internet has made identity theft and identity fraud more common. The legislature has passed new laws due to the rise of the internet to deal with identity fraud because the current laws were not written to respond to what people can do on the internet. As people become more accustomed to putting their information out publicly, people have been able to access that information. It is also easier to pretend to be another person. Hampton Roads fraud lawyers can help you establish a defense you can be proud to present in court.